Britain’s feature film tax credit, news that Michel Gondry will open the Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight and ITV’s TV collaboration with Shazam are amongst the international news stories in today’s Daily Bite.
Tax credit provides stability for British film says Parfitt… Oscar-winning producer David Parfitt (Shakespeare In Love) has said that the “stability of the tax credit in the UK has been fantastic” for British filmmakers and marked a positive period for the industry, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Speaking at a BAFTA panel event in London last night, Parfitt noted the importance of the tax incentive, which is guaranteed until at least 2015. However, he added that he believed it was “equally hard now” to make films in Britain as an independent film producer as it was 20 years ago.
Gondry to open Cannes’ Directors' Fortnight…. French director Michel Gondry’s ‘The We and The I’ will kick off the Cannes Film Festival's Directors’ Fortnight over May 17-27, according to Variety. The Fortnight's 2012 lineup was announced this morning and consists of 21 features, with 18 world premieres including British director Ben Wheatley ‘Sightseers’.
ITV to collaborate with Shazam for interactive content…ITV and technology company Shazam – best known for letting people identify songs by using an app on their phone– are to work together on an app that will allow viewers to ‘Shazam’ television adverts and gain more information about the advertised product. The app will even facilitate taking them to a website where they can buy the advertised product. The same technology could possibly also be used for accessing additional information during regular TV programming.
If you watch one trailer today… Due for release on May 18 in Ireland and set to screen for IFTA members next week, here’s a look at actor Mark O’Halloran’s forthcoming movie ‘A Kiss For Jed’.
